The Team Behind the Wonder

 

Christopher Rodriguez, Executive/Artistic Director

Christopher has been an active member of the San Antonio theatre community for the last 20 years. He worked at the Playhouse as the Youth Program Director/Box Office Manager for nine years. Rodriguez has worked as a contract choreographer for local high school drama and choir programs for the past 15 years. In 2012, he was hired by the founders of the Wonder Theatre as the Youth Program Director and as the theatre’s Resident Choreographer. In 2015, Rodriguez was promoted to Artistic Director, and then again promoted in 2016 to his current position. Favorite direction and choreography credits include Altar Boyz, Beehive, A Chorus Line, Xanadu, Young Frankenstein, Smokey Joe's Café, West Side Story, and Evita.

 

Benjamin Grabill, Technical Director

Benjamin is an artist, musician, and designer. While a student of Architecture, he began building sets as a volunteer during Wonder's 2012 production of The Rocky Horror Show. Shortly thereafter, he was invited to join the Wonder team full-time. Benjamin served as the Wonder's House and Box Office Manager for several years, all the while, designing and building sets in the background. He is honored to serve as Technical Director, and grateful for every opportunity to manifest his passion for design, and love of the arts, on the Woodlawn's historic stage. Benjamin has been the proud and humble recipient of the ATAC's Award of Excellence in Set Design for many productions on the Woodlawn stage.   

 

Kristen McKee, Development Director

After graduating from Baylor University, Kristen served as a Sales Manager and then Director of Sales for Highpointe Hotel Corporation before embarking on a 15-year career in education. After teaching, receiving a master’s degree, and serving in various coordinator capacities to include: curriculum, state testing, and grant/special projects, she was drawn to work in the arts. Being from New Orleans and having a father that owned a well-known music store in the city, Kristen’s love of live performing arts coupled with her understanding of the power the arts has to both merge and inspire communities drives her to find multiple means of support for the Wonder Theatre.

 

Krystal Newcomer, Comptroller

Krystal studied at St. Phillips College and San Antonio College. She has worked as a Data Entry Specialist, Box Office Manager, Special Events Manager, and Marketing Manager for the Alamo Drafthouse. She enjoys acting, singing, and dancing and is especially happy to be on the Wonder Theatre team.

 

Crystal Truong, Marketing Associate

Crystal graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with her Bachelor’s in Marketing. Before joining the Wonder Theatre team, she worked with a number of nonprofits, small businesses, and local marketing agencies in San Antonio. Crystal is also a graphic design hobbyist and beginner photographer. She enjoys music, reading, and live performances, and is excited to be part of Wonder Theatre.

 

Jessica Gutierrez, Box Office Manager

Jessica has been an active volunteer at the Wonder Theatre since 2018 but has been a patron even longer than that. She was introduced to the theatre back in 2014 when her sister Madeline joined the Wonder APA. Since then, Jessica has seen over 20 Woodlawn Theatre productions and volunteered as an usher as well as in the concession booth. Outside of the Woodlawn, Jessica has been in management at Bahama Buck’s for more than 7 years.

 

Lizel Sandoval, Academy Program Director

Lizel began dancing at the age of six through through the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation and went on to receive a BFA in Theatre Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Lizel has taught, directed, and choreographed countless youth theatre productions and classes at The Magik Theatre, Stone Oak Youth Theatre, and most recently, the Wonder Theatre Academy.

 

Alex Valverde, Academy Administrator

Alex has been with us in various roles for eight years; and has been involved in the management of creatives and their projects for the better part of 10 years. Beginning with an interest in film-making, Alex quickly found his home and career in the artistic processes of others, specifically in administrative or directorial capacities. In 2014, Alex discovered the Wonder Theatre, and his love for performing arts. Since then, and still, he offers his unique managerial expertise as a freelancer, a small business owner, and as a regular Stage Manager at the Wonder Theatre.

 

Sami Serrano Bassig, Outreach Director and Instructor

Dr. Bassig is a frequent performer of Musical Theatre and Opera in the San Antonio area. Some of her recent credits include: Meet Me in St. Louis (Esther Smith), Into the Woods (Little Red Riding Hood), Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbit), and The Music Man (Marian Paroo). In 2019, she traveled to NYC where she received training from Lindsay Mendez, Ryan Scott Oliver, Sierra Boggess, Katie Rose Clarke, and other Broadway performers and prominent casting directors. She recently music-directed Into the Woods Teen, Zombie Prom, A Chorus Line: Teen Edition and Footloose: Teen Edition. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from The University of Texas at San Antonio, her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance, and her Doctorate in Musical Arts at The University of Texas at Austin in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy. She is currently an Adjunct Music Professor at the University of Incarnate Word.

 

Alonzo Corona, Outreach Specialist and Resident Choreographer

Alonzo is an active performer/dancer, award-winning choreographer, and teacher in the local theater scene. He has been dancing professionally for a short 10 years, but has shaken the scene and made an impact for himself, respectively. Alonzo has recently been a performer for Six Flags, toured with FELD Entertainment, was apart of the Artisan Oddities Entertainment Dance Company, and a performer/choreographer for SeaWorld San Antonio. He is looking forward to extending his knowledge and passion for performing, dance, and theater with present and future performers. Alonzo is humbled and beyond grateful to serve as the Outreach Specialist and Resident Choreographer at the theatre that started it all for him!

The Board of Directors

 

Wonder Theatre's Board of Directors is comprised of respected individuals who share an interest in the arts and the economic and cultural development of San Antonio and its surrounding community. The Board provides Wonder Theatre employees policy guidance and direction.

  • Chris Duke - President

  • Ms. Danica R. McKinney, Esq. - President-Elect

  • Melissa Gonzalez - Immediate Past President

  • Beth Morgan

  • Bob Galindo

  • Eric Michael Garza

  • Joshua Peña Buce

  • JoyLynn Occhiuzzi

  • Maggie Wilmoth

  • Sherry Wehner, MD

  • Teri Levy